Empire on Display - Free Walking Tour in South Kensington

Explore how the British Empire’s values and vision were physically manifested in the cultural landscape of South Kensington. This tour offers a layered perspective on how art, science, and education were positioned as pillars of imperial prestige.

We examine how the Great Exhibition of 1851 laid the foundation for this entire district, and how the profit, symbolism, and ambition of that event shaped what followed. From there, we reflect on how museums and cultural institutions in the area became both vessels for imperial collections and stages for projecting British power. We will discuss how beauty, knowledge, and innovation was used to justify the empire’s reach.

Throughout the tour, we’ll consider the tensions between imperial ambition and human cost, between civic pride and colonial extraction. We’ll discuss how ideas of civilisation, race, and hierarchy were embedded in displays and architecture, and how those legacies still echo today.

This experience is not just about looking back, it’s also about considering the role of these institutions in the present. How do museums respond to contemporary questions around empire, representation, and accountability? How does the built environment continue to shape our understanding of the past? What is remembered, and what is left out?

• The curse of the Kohinoor diamond
• The legacy of the Great Exhibition of 1851
• Science and Colonisation
• Exhibiting the Empire

This walk has been part of the Inside Out Festival - supported by Westminster City Council.

This tour is free to attend as part of History Speak CIC’s commitment to make diverse stories of our heritage accessible to everyone. If you enjoyed the tour and felt you learnt something new, you’re welcome to leave a tip at the end. Your support helps keep these walks open and available.

Hi! My name is Manasi and I will be taking you on a guided walk to examine the Art of Power on display in South Kensington.

I studied and practiced Exhibition Design for 10 years before I started creating walking tours. Even my first job in London was at the Natural History Museum! This area and topic are very close to my heart.

I am glad to have the opportunity to look beyond what funders and curators want us to see, by doing the Empire on Display walking tour for History Speak CIC. I hope you will join me!

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Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens, London, United Kingdom

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